(paddling LowForce on the Tees in my 'fly')
Well, here I am sat on the couch at home wondering what to scribble for my first ever blog post. I was hoping to be able to think of something profound or perhaps at least entertaining for this auspicious occasion. unfortunately however, whatever it is that passes for my imagination is totally blank at the moment.
I have been hoping to carve out a profitable niche for myself in the outdoor world and we'll just have to see whether that turns out to be true or not. I have been climbing and mountaineering for about 15 years including trips to the alps in summer and winter. I especially enjoy winter climbing and winter mountaineering up in scotland. There is something satisfying about climbing in the difficult conditions up there! I also enjoy open canoeing expeditions and kayaking (Sea and White Water). More recently I have had the privilage of being able to become a caving instructor and take groups caving in the Yorkshire Dales.
White water boating either in a kayak or kneeling in that most audacious of craft, the specialist white water open canoe, has been my passion for the last 5 years. Before that it was mountaineering and ice climbing. Unfortunately over the last few years events have conspired to prevent me from getting out on my usual summer climbing trip to the alps or himalaya, but that is not to say that climbing and mountaineering have been forgotten in the rush to find white water excitement. They have just been put aside for a while, and are slowly being taken up agian.
Why OC1? I have been asked that question many times recently, I suppose the main reason was that I was inspired by watching Ken Hughes paddle his 'Aftershock'
on the River Tees and I realised that my kayaking was becoming 'stagnant'. The amount of skill and commitment required to paddle a short canoe feels alot greater than that of a kayak, but at the same time it allows me to paddle the same kind of water.I am a geography teacher, and believe passionately that people, old and young, need to be challenged to think about how they interact with their environment, both on a local and global level. I believe that we in the Western 'developed' world have alot to learn from people of other cultures, especially tribal cultures and how they interact sustainably with their environment.
My love of the outdoors has lead me to become a furverant wilderness concervationist. 'Leave no trace' has been my philosophy for all of my trips and expeditions whether in the UK or further afield.
The biggest challenge eco-ethical that I face, is finding a way to enjoy my sports in a
more environmentally sustainable way. For example car sharing!! (The nature of outdoor sports is that we generally have to travel reasonable distances to the venues of our adrenalin filled entertainment). I would be most interested in hearing ideas from others, for example, are there 'ethical'/fair trade manufacturers of outdoor equipment? I know that Paramo are committed to concervation for example.
Anyway, this first blog has become more of a ramble than a poigniant or profound opening gambit....
